Amid Israel’s urgent efforts to combat the coronavirus threat, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem is helping to feed and care for many elderly Israelis confined to the homes, including hundreds of Holocaust survivors, while also sponsoring aliyah flights from Russia and Ethiopia.
“While the government’s measures to fight the coronavirus is impacting the whole country, I am glad we are still able to help Israel pull through this crisis in a number of ways,” said ICEJ president Dr. Jürgen Bühler. “This includes packing and delivering food boxes to senior citizens, caring for Holocaust survivors, and bringing Jews home from Russia and Ethiopia.”
On Sunday evening, a group of 26 Russian Jewish immigrants sponsored by the ICEJ arrived on a flight from St. Petersburg and immediately went into a two-week self-quarantine due to the COVID-19 threat.
This flight marks the 30th anniversary of its sponsorship of Jewish families making aliyah from the former Soviet Union.
The ICEJ also sponsored the flights of 72 Ethiopian Jews, who landed early on Tuesday morning from Addis Ababa. They were taken to the Beit Alfa absorption center to enter quarantine for 14 days as well.
In addition, the ICEJ is funding Passover gift baskets with food, games, learning materials and other items for these and other recently arrived Ethiopian Jewish families as part of their integration process during the upcoming holiday season.
Meanwhile, seven Christian staff and volunteers in Haifa have been helping pack and deliver food boxes to hundreds of senior citizens in the city, including many Holocaust survivors confined to their homes as a health precaution.
The team also was specially tasked with providing food and daily care, including medical checks, for the 70 residents at its Haifa Home for Holocaust survivors, who must stay in their rooms as well. These efforts were done in partnership with the Israeli charity Yad Ezer L’Haver.
In addition, ICEJ staff in Jerusalem packed and delivered food boxes this past week to a number of elderly and disabled Israelis who are regularly cared for by its team of skilled nurses.
The Christian embassy also has staff working with the charities Latet and Ezrat Avot to pack and deliver food boxes to the front doors of hundreds of Israeli senior citizens who must remain in their homes to avoid virus contamination.
“We are working within the rules set by the Health Ministry to help Israelis as much as we can in this troubling time confronting the whole world,” said Bühler. “We know it is in difficult moments like these when our efforts to bless and comfort Israel count the most.”
